DURHAM, N.C. - Three Duke rowers, seniors Emily Theys and Laura Sciarrino and freshman Katie Dukovich earned All-ACC honors after finishing third as a team at the 2013 ACC Championships. Recently, GoDuke.com sat down with Theys to learn more about the Stoughton, Wisc., native.

GoDuke.com: What has been your proudest moment at Duke?Emily Theys: At Duke, it’d probably have to be when our team won Dade Vails last year because it was a come from behind win, and I think we won by 0.4 seconds and no one expected it.

GoDuke.com: What is your favorite part of being a Duke student-athlete?ET: I think everybody, especially on the athletic side, really appreciates what student-athletes do and the sacrifices we make. Even on the academic side, there is just a great sense of community at Duke especially between the academic and athletics.

GoDuke.com: What has been your favorite class at Duke?ET: Sports Performance with Claire Kasesen. I love anything to do anything with sports, but we explored a side of sports that you usually don’t think about.

GoDuke.com: What is your favorite spot on campus?ET: My teammates are going to kill me for sure, but the Urg room. I have had some great memories made in there, and if I am ever having a tough time, exercising it out is the best way to go.

GoDuke.com: What is the most misunderstood thing about rowing?ET: It’s a full body sport, not just your arms.

GoDuke.com: Any words of wisdom for future Blue Devils or freshman?ET: Have no regrets on what you do.

GoDuke.com: Tell us about a time when you first started rowing.ET: I trailed my brother into it. I trailed him into every single sport he did. He wouldn’t let me join in rowing initially, but I worked on him for a summer and he finally decided to let me do it, so I joined my junior year of high school.

GoDuke.com: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?ET: I wanted to be a professional athlete actually. I thought I was going to be the next Mia Hamm, but wasn’t quite hand-eye coordinated enough for soccer. As of now, I’d love to stay in collegiate athletics working with an athletic department and helping student-athletes. I’d love to get into either coaching or game day operations.

GoDuke.com: What was your favorite food when you were a child? What is your favorite food now?ET: Shepherd’s pie. My dad made it all the time. He hated making it because he hated eating it, but I loved it. My tastes have changed a bit. Now, I love his Mac and Cheese.

GoDuke.com: Are there any chores that you absolutely hate doing?ET: I hate drying dishes. I will wash them like nobody’s business, but I can’t stand drying them.

GoDuke.com: If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do?ET: I would buy my mom her Ford Escape and then buy us a boathouse. I’d also love to go back to Australia. I lived there in 7th grade, and went back for a month this past year. It is awesome.

GoDuke.com: What’s one possession you can’t live without?ET: Probably my iPhone because it has my life on it.

GoDuke.com: Any hidden talents?ET: All of my teammates know about it, but I’m a pretty good baker. They didn’t used to know about it, and now that they do, they exploit it. I enjoy making Chocolate Chip cookies because I know the recipe by heart, but they enjoy anything with chocolate in it.

GoDuke.com: Who has been the biggest influence on your life?ET: Both of my parents. They taught me that I can go after my dreams, and they taught me that hard work is really what pays off in the end.

GoDuke.com: Best advice you have ever received?ET: Be great. It means go as far as you can for as long as you can and see where it takes you. Always give your best effort.